David Cameron has rejected calls for proportional representation. But actually those leading the call for it (and I am one of them) have not asked for PR as such; we’ve asked for a referendum on the issue. Now David Cameron says he’s keen on referenda, but not apparently on issues as important as this. Why Read the Rest…

The Seattle Times notes: PANAMA is a country primarily known for three things: a canal, cool hats and money laundering. In fact, you can float right through the middle of the country, sporting a stylish straw hat, and nobody ever has to know who paid for the trip, or the hat. Panama’s "comparative advantage" is Read the Rest…

The Wall Street Journal has reported: Accenture is seeking to become the latest company to switch tax-haven locales. On Tuesday, the consulting and outsourcing firm said its board of directors had unanimously approved switching the company’s place of incorporation from Bermuda to Ireland. The move is, of course, provoked by Obama’s attack on tax havens Read the Rest…

According to a report in India: Tax havens like Mauritius with which India has a tax treaty or Bermuda, shield a staggering $225 billion in unpaid taxes a year, according to Girish Vanvari, Executive Director at KPMG for M & A Tax. The US alone loses $60 billion a year. I have no idea where Read the Rest…

David Cameron has said: One of the most important things in your life – the education of your children – is largely out of your hands. Our reforms will take the power over education out of the council’s hands and put it directly in parents’ hands, so they have control. I think this is incredible: Read the Rest…

CQ Politics in the USA has reported: With President Obama pledging to crack down on offshore tax havens, it was no surprise that the Cayman Islands Financial Services Association ‚Äî in one of the most popular havens ‚Äî would hire a Washington lobbying firm to look after its interests. The firm it picked is Quinn Read the Rest…

LIGFI : the genesis : Ethics and governance in the European Financial centers. Jerome Turquey notes some interesting facts on the Luxembourg Institute that is claimning to promote financial integrity, including the fact that it has apparently been promoted by a group of former intelligence and international security experts. Nothing wrong with that I guess. Read the Rest…

SOMO in the Netherlands has issued the following note in response to the Dutch furore at being described as a tax haven by the USA: The White House press briefing announcing measures against tax avoidance and tax havens, published on 4 May 2009, originally contained the following sentence: ‚ÄòNearly one-third of all foreign profits reported Read the Rest…